Advantages and disadvantages of food packaging
In order to receive the food you have today, food must be packaged in materials that are non perishable and preserve the food. Some of these materials are: glass, plastic, paper/cardboard, aluminium and other types of metals. All these materials have different effects on different types of foods
Packaging food in glass is very practical. Glass doesn’t react to food or contains chemicals that can contaminate food. They can show its contents as to make sure that the food looks alright. It is also recyclable so once all the food is consumed, a person can use it again to package more food. Glass also doesn’t allow foreign matter, such as pests, moisture and oxygen, to enter and react with the food. However, two major disadvantages of using glass to package food are that it can break easily and is heavier than other materials. When transporting food that is contained in glass, the vehicle it’s travelling in could bump around a lot, resulting the glass breaking. Also, when a glass bottle breaks, it can be harmful to small children. For example, when a small child is trying to get their favourite food, which happens to be in a glass container, he or she may accidentally drop it, and being to embarrassed to tell their parent may try to clean it up. This can result in serious cuts.
Plastic packaging is another practical way of packaging. It is light weight and very accessible. It can come in many shapes and sizes which give the producer of food an advantage so he or she can choose a container that can best hold their product. Once the consumer is done with the container, he or she can also reuse it for their own personal use. The disadvantages of using plastic are that some plastics are not recyclable. Plastics also allow oxygen to enter and react with the food. This is shown in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdGecoDv0Q
Using paper and/or cardboard as a material to store food in isn’t very popular. This is because it isn’t as strong to hold most materials and if the food produces some type or moisture and/or liquid, the moisture/liquid will leak through. However, paper/cardboard can also be greaseproof and is cheaper. It is also a flexible material and can fit to the shape of its contents. Paper/cardboard is also biodegradable.
Aluminium is one of the most common materials for food packaging. It is biodegradable material and can be recycled. It is light weight and non toxic. Aluminium is also flexible so it can fit the shape of its contents. But aluminium can also break easily when bended a number of times.
In order to receive the food you have today, food must be packaged in materials that are non perishable and preserve the food. Some of these materials are: glass, plastic, paper/cardboard, aluminium and other types of metals. All these materials have different effects on different types of foods
Packaging food in glass is very practical. Glass doesn’t react to food or contains chemicals that can contaminate food. They can show its contents as to make sure that the food looks alright. It is also recyclable so once all the food is consumed, a person can use it again to package more food. Glass also doesn’t allow foreign matter, such as pests, moisture and oxygen, to enter and react with the food. However, two major disadvantages of using glass to package food are that it can break easily and is heavier than other materials. When transporting food that is contained in glass, the vehicle it’s travelling in could bump around a lot, resulting the glass breaking. Also, when a glass bottle breaks, it can be harmful to small children. For example, when a small child is trying to get their favourite food, which happens to be in a glass container, he or she may accidentally drop it, and being to embarrassed to tell their parent may try to clean it up. This can result in serious cuts.
Plastic packaging is another practical way of packaging. It is light weight and very accessible. It can come in many shapes and sizes which give the producer of food an advantage so he or she can choose a container that can best hold their product. Once the consumer is done with the container, he or she can also reuse it for their own personal use. The disadvantages of using plastic are that some plastics are not recyclable. Plastics also allow oxygen to enter and react with the food. This is shown in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdGecoDv0Q
Using paper and/or cardboard as a material to store food in isn’t very popular. This is because it isn’t as strong to hold most materials and if the food produces some type or moisture and/or liquid, the moisture/liquid will leak through. However, paper/cardboard can also be greaseproof and is cheaper. It is also a flexible material and can fit to the shape of its contents. Paper/cardboard is also biodegradable.
Aluminium is one of the most common materials for food packaging. It is biodegradable material and can be recycled. It is light weight and non toxic. Aluminium is also flexible so it can fit the shape of its contents. But aluminium can also break easily when bended a number of times.
References
Paragraph 1: http://www.columbusfoodtours.com/materials-used-for-food-packaging-containers.html
Paragraph 2: http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?products_id=352
Paragraph 3: http://designmeister.com/2009/09/18/plastic-versus-glass-in-food-packaging/
Paragraph 4: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/4-advantages-to-paper-packaging-1226255.html
http://netbiznews.galanter.net/2010/01/25/3-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-packaging-materials/
Paragraph 5: http://aluminium.org.au/packaging